Saturday 21st December 2019
Just within the last week or so, the W.M.G.C. has received a fascinating email from an academic-Gentleman, who had a most intriguing story to relate to us. While not actually falling within the West Midlands region itself, the 'encounter' concerned occurred just over the county boundary, in a lovely area of Worcestershire called Wythall....
He and his partner had been for an evening out at a local pub and were subsequently driving home, along a country lane, just after 11pm. As it was November, it was, of course, a pitch black night, at that time of year......
At a point during their journey, they reached the brow of a hill on the lane they were travelling along. This height heralded a distinct 'dip' in the lane ahead of them - forming a small, 'valley-like' feature to the road - as the thoroughfare then rose again on the other side of the depression. As they crested the brow of the downward slope, the partner - who was driving - suddenly slammed their breaks on.... their headlights still set on full beam.......
In the distance, at the bottom of the hill, was (what appeared to be) something like 20 or 30 'Roman soldiers' coming out of the field to their left and crossing the road dead ahead of them, into another field on their right.....!?
He and his partner had been for an evening out at a local pub and were subsequently driving home, along a country lane, just after 11pm. As it was November, it was, of course, a pitch black night, at that time of year......
At a point during their journey, they reached the brow of a hill on the lane they were travelling along. This height heralded a distinct 'dip' in the lane ahead of them - forming a small, 'valley-like' feature to the road - as the thoroughfare then rose again on the other side of the depression. As they crested the brow of the downward slope, the partner - who was driving - suddenly slammed their breaks on.... their headlights still set on full beam.......
In the distance, at the bottom of the hill, was (what appeared to be) something like 20 or 30 'Roman soldiers' coming out of the field to their left and crossing the road dead ahead of them, into another field on their right.....!?
The men are reported as seeming solid enough; though details like colours were hard to make out, as they appeared to be illuminated by a light source coming from behind them.... like a spotlight? The couple originally considered this to be just moonlight, perhaps, but, in re-visiting the scenario in their minds-eye, this now struck as unlikely, as it was too bright... and at ground level? Also, once the procession had crossed the road, they seemed to disappear into the darkness of the opposite field, which would possibly seem to suggest that moonlight wasn't involved?
Both witnesses had sat in silence, watching the scene unfold about 100 / 200 metres ahead of them. My correspondent reports that the sensations he'd instantly experienced at the sighting was disbelief and shock.... maybe even fear? His partner was able to put her feelings into words, however, and simply said: “What the f*ck is that!?!”
Both witnesses had sat in silence, watching the scene unfold about 100 / 200 metres ahead of them. My correspondent reports that the sensations he'd instantly experienced at the sighting was disbelief and shock.... maybe even fear? His partner was able to put her feelings into words, however, and simply said: “What the f*ck is that!?!”
While he hadn't manage to actually count the precise number of men involved, he was able to see that all of the men were on foot, except for one, who was on horseback at the very front of the group..... The foot-soldiers appeared to be walking in two’s, side by side. The horse was large - around the size of a 'shire horse', with bushy (furry) legs. The mounted soldier also appeared to be carrying a large, stick-like, object, with something around the top of it? However, it was hard to make out this object precisely, due to the fact that it was witnessed 'side-on' and at a reasonable distance.
Amazingly, no other cars / traffic came up or down the road in this space of time and - once the coast was clear - they drove, apprehensively, down the hill and back up the other side. I was told that, what had really flabbergasted the pair was the fact that, at the bottom of the hill, where the figures had made their way onto the road surface, there was no physical gap in the field border / hedgerow involved!?!
From a personal point of view, what I found interesting about the matter was that the couple were just returning from an evening at a spot that, itself, has a history of being haunted by a Roman-era ghost!?
Amazingly, no other cars / traffic came up or down the road in this space of time and - once the coast was clear - they drove, apprehensively, down the hill and back up the other side. I was told that, what had really flabbergasted the pair was the fact that, at the bottom of the hill, where the figures had made their way onto the road surface, there was no physical gap in the field border / hedgerow involved!?!
From a personal point of view, what I found interesting about the matter was that the couple were just returning from an evening at a spot that, itself, has a history of being haunted by a Roman-era ghost!?
The Gentleman involved informed me that he'd instantly plunged into some historical research on the location afterwards and had discovered numerous details that pointed towards evidence for a reasonable amount of 'Roman presence' in the area concerned, including the fact that a 'Roman thoroughfare' actually ran through the spot where the figures had been witnessed! Of considerable interest too is the fact that the public house they had been visiting, on the night of their encounter, is also said to have a ghost associated with it: A cyclic-sounding, 'Roman-era' phantom, incredibly enough!?!
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